MLB Player News

Vientos is not in the Mets' starting lineup against the Padres on Sunday.

Vientos will be on the bench for the start of Sunday's game after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 3-2 loss to San Diego. Jared Young will start at first base while Juan Soto serves as the designated hitter.

Vargas is not in the Diamondbacks' starting lineup against the Nationals on Sunday.

It's the third game in a row in which Vargas will be on the bench for the start of the game. With Pavin Smith serving as the team's DH, Vargas has been losing playing time to rookie LuJames Groover, who is starting at first base and batting eighth in Sunday's series finale.

Bauers isn't in Milwaukee's starting lineup Sunday versus the Rockies.

Bauers reached base eight times (four hits and four walks) and drove in four runs over the first two games of the series, but he'll begin on the bench Sunday with Colorado sending southpaw Kyle Freeland to the mound. Andrew Vaughn is starting at first base in Bauers' stead.

Devers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.

The veteran slugger drew a walk in the third inning and took Caleb Thielbar deep to right-center field in the sixth. Devers has recorded at least one hit in three straight games and is batting .227 with eight runs scored, four RBI and a homer across 49 plate appearances in the last 10 contests. On the season, he's slashing .243/.293/.424 with 32 RBI, 29 runs scored, eight long balls and a 30.4 percent strikeout rate in 276 plate appearances.

Santana (thigh) began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Santana started at first base, played five innings and went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. He was back at Chase Field to take batting practice with the Diamondbacks on Saturday. It's unclear what role Santana will have once he's ready, as first base and DH are crowded with Pavin Smith, Ildemaro Vargas and LuJames Groover all looking for playing time. That list doesn't include the imminent returns Lourdes Gurriel (hamstring) and Jordan Lawlar (wrist), both of whom may need at-bats at DH.

Vargas (thigh) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter, went 0-for-1, and finished as the designated hitter in a 6-1 loss to Washington.

Vargas, who was removed from Thursday's game with a thigh issue, has come off the bench in the next two contests. He was able to play defense Friday before getting a plate appearance Saturday, indicating he has no limitations and may simply be slipping back into a bench role. The recent activation of Pavin Smith from the injured list and the call-up of prospect LuJames Groover, who started at first base Friday and Saturday, appears to be impacting Vargas' playing time.

Bauers went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, four walks, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Rockies.

Bauers didn't get many pitches to hit, but he demonstrated plenty of plate discipline. Remarkably, Saturday marked his second four-walk game in June, the first having come Monday versus the Giants. He has gone 5-for-17 (.294) at the plate with a 10:5 BB:K and two homers over six games this month. Bauers is batting .281 with an .892 OPS, 11 homers, 40 RBI, 37 runs scored, five steals and 12 doubles over 55 games this season. He needs just one more homer to match his career high, one he's reached three previous times (2019, 2023, 2024).

The Mets announced Saturday that Polanco's rehab assignment has been halted due to ankle soreness.

Polanco began a rehab assignment last week and was expected to be nearing a return to the Mets' lineup, but he reported soreness in his ankle Saturday and will head back to New York to be reevaluated. The 32-year-old has dealt with Achilles and wrist issues this season, and he's now managing yet another injury. Polanco has been limited to 61 plate appearances across 14 games this season, and he's slashed an underwhelming .179/.246/.286 with one home run and two RBI.

The Mets have shut down Polanco's (Achilles/wrist) rehab assignment, Keith Raad of SNY reports.

Polanco, who has been on the injured list since April 18, will head back to New York to be reevaluated. The 32-year-old has struggled at the plate when healthy during his first season with the Mets, slashing .179/.246/.286 across 61 plate appearances.

Vientos will have to continue competing for at-bats with Jared Young and MJ Melendez, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

The recent emergence of Young in particular has already started to cost Vientos playing time in the first few days of June. Vientos also hasn't helped his cause by mustering just a .125 average (4-for-32) over his last 10 games dating back to May 24. Manager Carlos Mendoza labels the situation a "healthy competition," and he did afford Vientos a start at designated hitter Saturday.